9 hacks to save money when you move to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an exciting and spectacular destination for expats, but it doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it’s among the world’s most expensive cities. And moving...
Australian international schools in Hong Kong
Many Australians look to emigrate at some point in their lives, and one of the most popular locations chosen is Hong Kong. With over 100,000 Australians living there, Hong Kong has one of the largest Australian communities abroad.¹
If you’re an Australian thinking about moving to Hong Kong, you may be interested in the Australian international schools that will be available for your children.
In this article, we’ll talk you through all the facts, including the education system in Hong Kong, the benefits of enrolling your kids in an Australian international school, and what schools are available for you to consider.
| 💸 Hold over 40 currencies in your account and spend at the mid-market exchange rate with the Wise Debit card while abroad. |
|---|
Learn more about the
Wise Account and card
Life in Hong Kong
Life in Hong Kong is a great experience for Australian expats, with English being widely spoken and there being a large expatriate community.
It’s a country that’s proud of its heritage, and there are plenty of things to see and do including a trip on the Star Ferry, exploring Hong Kong Island by tram, as well as hiking around Victoria Peak.
The expat community is known to be welcoming and friendly, and there’s a prominent Australian international school which we’ll tell you about in some more detail shortly.
The education system in Hong Kong
The education system in Hong Kong is based on that of the British model and consists of primary, secondary, advanced, and undergraduate education.²
Subjects learned include mathematics, music, arts, science, and physical education, plus students are offered regular Chinese and English lessons. Only the first 9 years of the schooling system is compulsory, however, most students complete all 12 years of primary/secondary education.²
Australian education system
The Australian education system is not dissimilar from the process children follow in Hong Kong. In Australia, the education system consists of Early childhood, Primary, Secondary and Higher education, ranging from ages 4 - 18 and above.³
There are also many religious schools in Australia, with an estimated 30% of all Australian schools being linked to a religion. These are predominantly Anglican and Christian.³
Benefits of enrolling your kids in Australian schools in Hong Kong
Here are some key benefits of enrolling your children in Australian schools in Hong Kong⁴:
- Offers a ‘best of both worlds’ environment
- Home to children from many different nationalities
- Both Australian and Hong Kong curriculums followed
- Generally smaller student numbers of around 1,000 per school
Curriculums used by Australian schools in Hong Kong
Several curriculums are used by Australian schools in Hong Kong; take a look at the sections below to understand which curriculums are used and for what ages.
Australian Curriculum
For Australian schools in Hong Kong, the Australian curriculum is followed in primary education, and children are offered daily Chinese (Mandarin) lessons alongside their traditional lessons.⁵
Children are educated in classrooms that mirror those of Australia, and learn a range of subjects that children would be likely to learn in Australia from the Australian curriculum including English, mathematics, science, art, music, and drama.⁶
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is followed in Australian schools in Hong Kong to children in secondary education. They also have the choice of the Australian New South Wales Higher School Certificate as they go into senior secondary education.⁷
The IB is globally recognized and provides a range of qualifications in subjects such as English, mathematics, science and technology, social sciences, creative arts and physical education.⁷
Children in secondary education are also generally offered the opportunity to learn both French and Chinese in regular lessons.⁵
Can anyone apply to Australian schools in Hong Kong
Anyone can apply to an Australian school in Hong Kong, with the dominant Australian school in Hong Kong being an international school.
The Australian International School in Hong Kong is home to 1,100 students from over 25 nationalities, making it a school that anyone from around the world can apply to (subject to application requirements).⁵
Examples of Australian schools in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has one dominant Australian school which is the Australian International School Hong Kong.
Here are some details about this school that you should know if you’re planning on applying on behalf of your children:
| Name of school | Australian International School Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Location | 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| Ages catered to | 4 years old - end of year 12⁵ |
| Curriculum followed | Australian curriculum, New South Wales Higher School Certificate, and International Baccalaureate⁵ |
| Average school fees |
|
| Application requirements | The following requirements are required on application⁹:
|
| Contact information |
|
As seen on 27 June 2023
The Wise Account
If you’re moving to Hong Kong in the near future, you may have started to think about how you’ll manage your money when you emigrate - look no further than Wise.
At Wise, you can easily transfer money between Australia and Hong Kong, with secure online money transfers.
The Wise Account and Debit Card are also available to make your life easier, with the ability to store money in over 40 currencies in one online account with the Wise Account, and the Wise Debit Card allowing you to spend this money in over 170 countries at the mid-market rate.
Join millions of customers currently enjoying Wise. It’ll only take a few minutes to register and see what’s inside.
Register your Wise account
in minutes 🚀
| Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information. |
|---|
Sources:
- Hong Kong Brief - Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
- Hong Kong Education System - Scholaro
- Explore: The Australian Education System - FutureLearn
- Homepage - Australian International School Hong Kong
- At a Glance - Australian International School Hong Kong
- Primary - Australian International School Hong Kong
- Secondary - Australian International School Hong Kong
- Tuition and Fees - Australian International School Hong Kong
- Application Information - Australian International School Hong Kong
Sources checked on: 27 June 2023
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
Money without borders
Find out more
Cost of living in Hong Kong: Your guide
If you fancy a life in Hong Kong, you're not alone. It's among the most densely populated places in the world, with an amazing seven million people in just...
